Firefighters are confident no further evacuations will be needed as they battle a large bushfire on Stradbroke Island.

Mr Clarke says families should ensure loved ones are coping with the heat, with the elderly particularly vulnerable.

"For the elderly and people with chronic illnesses, especially with kidney problems, diabetic problems, obese people, they need to take extra care," he said.

"Probably a critical point to make is family need to check their loved ones - grandad and grandma living on their own - they need to ring them up, they need to go around and visit them and make sure they are doing the right thing.

"Especially with the elderly. They'll lock their windows to make themselves feel safe; they live on their own. Family need to spend the time and go visit them."

The country recorded its hottest day on January 7 - a month which also saw the hottest week and hottest month since records began in 1910.

A new record was set for the number of consecutive days the national average temperature exceeded 39C – seven days between January 2 and 8, 2013, almost doubling the previous record of four consecutive days in 1973.

The highest temperature recorded during 2013 was 49.6C at Moomba in South Australia on January 12, which was the highest temperature in Australia since 1998.

Australia has experienced just one cooler-than-average year in the last decade - 2011.

Australian temperatures have warmed approximately 1C since 1950, consistent with global climate trends